I partnered withLife of DadandKINDfor this promotion, but all the opinions are mine.

I’ve been an exercise addict for as long as I can remember. I played little league baseball, then lettered in baseball and swimming in high school. Later, I competed in martial arts, worked out at the gym, and ran, and I still play in the “old Jewish guy” adult softball league, and do some rather brutal at-home workouts like “Insanity.”

Over the years, I’ve tried to pass on my love of sports to my daughters but haven’t been entirely successful. It took me a while to figure out that perhaps seeing me completely drenched in sweat or watching me heal from martial-arts inflicted bumps, bruises, cuts, broken bones, ACL tears, and reconstructive surgery didn’t convey the message that being athletic is fun.

But I never gave up. My oldest two, now living on their own in New York have discovered the joys of spin classes and yoga, and the youngest has played softball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and is a competitive swimmer. Sometimes we’ve worked out together, but most of the time not (the exception being walking and biking).

So when I heard about the #KINDMilesMatter challenge, I jumped at the chance to participate. The challenge gave us the perfect excuse to do physical things together, plus we’d be helping out a favorite local charity (KIND Snacks will donate a bunch of its healthy, delicious bars and other snacks to the Alameda County Food Bank).[Read more…]

You work out at the gym, eat healthy and always take your vitamins to stay healthy. You may think you are doing enough, but chances are you aren’t paying enough attention to your eyes. To protect your eyes, include these simple habits in your routine:

Unplug From Your Screens

Are you constantly on your computer or smartphone staring into a screen? According to the American Optometric Association, people who stare at a screen for 2 to 3 continuous hours may suffer from Computer Vision Syndrome, which blurs your vision. Every twenty minutes you should look away from your computer to prevent the onset of CVS. If you can, unplug from all screens during the evening and nighttime. Your eyes will thank you for it.

Eat Nutrient-Rich Foods

Eating healthy doesn’t just help keep you trim and your heart healthy, but also can protect your eyes. Web MD recommends that you eat the following foods to prevent macular degeneration, a condition that affects older men:

Cancer. Just the name sparks fear in the hearts of men all around the world. Whether you’re talking about lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, or any of the other numerous forms, cancer is frightening and too often deadly. However, it doesn’t have to get you. While genetic predisposition certainly plays a role in whether you develop cancer or not, there are numerous things that you can do to prevent it.

Stop Using Tobacco

If there is one absolutely must-do step you can take to prevent cancer, it’s kicking tobacco out of your life. Tobacco in any form (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco) is a cancer causing substance. Lung, throat, and mouth cancer are just for starters. If you can’t quit smoking, consider switching to an electronic cigarette or other smoking substitute (although be aware: e-cigs have plenty of health risks too). It’s not the nicotine that will kill you. It’s the tobacco.

Take Steps to Prevent Cancer-Contributing Infections

Cancer doesn’t come only from radiation and smoking. In fact, a number of infections can actually contribute to the likelihood that you’ll develop cancer. HIV, hepatitis, and HPV are just three of the viruses that may increase your chances of also developing cancer.

Watch What You Eat

What you eat is important for energy, health, and weight considerations, but it’s also important for cancer prevention. A number of foods can make you more susceptible to cancer, including grilled meats, red meat, and salty foods. By extension, anything that adds pounds to your frame could also be considered a cancer encourager, since being obese also increases your cancer risk. If you’re overweight or obese, take steps to shed those pounds now.

Dads, listen up: Child obesity is out of control. Don’t let your child fall victim to this epidemic that affects nearly one in three children in America. What your children put in their bodies aids their mental and physical development. Begin feeding your kids nutritious food from day one and adjust to their needs during different life stages. Here are some healthy eating tips to implement in every stage of your child’s life.

Newborns

Breast milk is the best food for babies. It provides all the beneficial nutrients, according to the American Association of Pediatrics, which recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months and a combination of breast milk and iron-rich complementary foods thereafter.

Not only does breastfeeding promote a deeper connection with between mom and baby, breast milk aids in protection from respiratory illnesses, infections, stomach problems, skin irritations and allergies.

New fathers can build their bond with baby by feeding breast milk from a bottle after mom’s milk supply is established (at about two to four weeks). Here’s the best approach:

Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News and petergreenberg.com
Topic: Family Travel.Issues: Preparing for a trip; being smart about food safety; should you buy travel insurance? The secret to breezing through airport security; biggest mistakes families make when traveling;

Dana Angelo White, author of First Bites.
Topic: Superfoods for babies and toddlers.Issues: Defining superfoods; what growing bodies need; what they don’t need; simple recipes that emphasize fruits and vegetables, grains, protein, dairy, and eggs; getting kids to make good food choices on tier own.